July 31, 2022
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
PRELUDE
led by Dana
WELCOME & GREETING, COMMUNITY LIFE
CALL TO WORSHIP
from Romans 8:35-39 & 10:8-9
Leader: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
People: No! In all things we are more than conquerors through
the One who loved us. We are sure that neither death nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Leader: This is the word of faith we proclaim:
People: If we confess with our lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved.
All: Thanks be to God. Amen.
JESUS CALLS US O’ER THE TUMULT
Jesus calls us o’er the tumult of our life’s wild restless sea
day by day His voice is sounding, saying, “Christian, follow me.”
As of old apostles heard it by the Galilean lake,
turned from home and toil and kindred, leaving all for His dear sake.
Jesus calls us from the worship of the vain world’s golden store,
from each idol that would keep us, saying, “Christian, love Me more.”
In our joys and in our sorrows, days of toil and hours of ease,
still He calls in cares and pleasures, “Christian, love Me more than
these.”
Jesus calls us; by Your mercies, Savior, may we hear Your call,
give our hearts to Your obedience, serve and love You best of all.
Covenant Hymnal #379
HE IS THE LIGHT
I feel the nations of the earth are shaking
There is no power that can match His grace
Lift up your head, lift up your eyes to see
All of creation is waiting and longing
For sons and daughters to declare this truth
Lift up your head, lift up your voice and sing
chorus
He is the light shining in the darkness
He is the hope, hope of all the nations
He is the light, He is the light
For all the world to see
I feel that faith across the earth is rising
We prophesy about His Kingdom coming
Just like Heaven all across the earth
bridge
Great, great is the Lord
Praise His Name, praise His Name
Bryan Torwalt | Katie Torwalt © 2013 Capitol CMG Genesis (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Jesus Culture Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 349090
GOSPEL LESSON
(Stand as you are able for the reading of the Gospel.)
Matthew 5:43-48
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
NEW TESTAMENT LESSON
1 Peter 4:1-11
Since, therefore, Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same intention (for whoever has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin), 2 so as to live for the rest of your time in the flesh no longer by human desires but by the will of God. 3 You have already spent enough time in doing what the gentiles like to do, living in debauchery, passions, drunkenness, revels, carousing, and lawless idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you no longer join them in the same excesses of dissipation, and so they blaspheme. 5 But they will have to give an accounting to him who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, so that, though they had been judged in the flesh as everyone is judged, they might live in the spirit as God does.
7 The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10 Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. 11 Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
CHILDREN’S MOMENT
Pastor Mark
Children 6 and under are dismissed to the gym
TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
Don’t lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him
And He will direct your paths.
Al-le-lu-ia, Al-le-lu-ia, and
He will direct your paths.
REFLECTING ON THE WORD
Pushing Weight
Chaplain Jim Stoel
GOODNESS OF GOD
I love You Lord
Oh Your mercy never fails me
All my days
I’ve been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
I will sing of the goodness of God
chorus
All my life You have been faithful
All my life You have been so so good
With every breath that I am able
I will sing of the goodness of God
I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
In darkest night
You are close like no other
I’ve known You as a father
I’ve known You as a friend
I have lived in the goodness of God
bridge
Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me
Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me
With my life laid down
I’m surrendered now
I give You everything
Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me
Ben Fielding | Brian Johnson | Ed Cash | Jason Ingram | Jenn Johnson © 2018 Capitol CMG Paragon (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) SHOUT! Music Publishing Australia (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Fellow Ships Music (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC) So Essential Tunes (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC) Bethel Music Publishing For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 349090
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH & THE LORD’S PRAYER
We continue to pray for: Nikolas Arden, Michael Bucci, Vira Coszach, Joan Erickson, Carlos Feijoo, the congregation of Grace Evangelical Covenant Church, Art & Rosa Hamilton, Mary McKirchy, Shirley Nicholas, Mary Smith, the Staurseth family, Esther Stoel, and Dick Swedberg
Ministries & Mission
Marta Klein, serving in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Renee Nicholas, serving as the national director for InterVarsity’s Graduate Healthcare Ministries
THE LORD’S PRAYER:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
GIVING OF OUR TITHES & OFFERING
giving opportunities: ravenscov.org/giving/
Zelle® to: giving@administrator
OFFERTORY
Sicilienne
Gabriel Fauré
led by Cynthia and Dennis Conner
DOXOLOGY & PRAYER
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED
O Jesus, I have promised to serve You to the end;
be now and ever near me, my Master and my Friend.
I shall not fear the battle if You are by my side,
nor wander from the pathway if You will be my guide.
O let me feel You near me; the world is ever near;
I see the sights the dazzle, the tempting sounds I hear.
My foes are ever near me, around me and within;
but, Jesus draw still nearer and shield my soul from sin!
O let me hear You speaking in accents clear and still,
above the storms of passion, the murmurs of self will.
O speak to reassure me, to hasten or control;
and speak to make me listen, O Guardian of my soul.
O Jesus, You have promised to all who follow You
that where You are in glory Your servants shall be too.
And, Jesus, I have promised to serve You to the end;
O give me grace to follow, my Master and my Friend. Amen.
Covenant Hymnal #610
BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God
POSTLUDE
Bourrée in E minor
J.S. Bach
led by Cynthia and Dennis Conner
INVITATION
We’ll be back here next Sunday. We hope you can join us. Information on ravenscov.org.
music as we go, by axiom.brass
We welcome guest cellist Dennis Conner to our worship service this morning. Dennis lives in the Ravenswood neighborhood.
Worship update
Due to an uptick in Covid-19 cases in Chicago, the Leadership Team of Ravenswood Covenant Church recommends mask use during services, but this is not mandatory.
Ravenswood Covenant will continue to livestream worship each week on YouTube and Facebook; this is now a permanent feature of our ministry, so Sunday morning worship will remain accessible to anyone who has Internet access.
Tacos and Tunes
Our third and final Tacos and Tunes gathering of summer 2022 will be Friday, August 19, in the parking lot from 5:30 to 7 pm. Chef Bobby will be preparing the tacos, the playground will be open for the kids, and we’ll have live, family-friendly music as well. As is the case for Thursday night community dinners, the suggested donation for Tacos and Tunes is $5 per person or $10 per family. Plan to join us!
Pastoral search focus groups
Every congregation faces times of transition, and it’s currently our turn here at Ravenswood Covenant. We are grateful for the input we received from the recent survey. It is also important that we have the opportunity to discuss the findings with each other. With that in mind, we have asked the Rev. Peter Sjoblom to facilitate conversations which will assist our pastoral search committee to discern what we are hoping for of our new pastor. We have four remaining dates and times to meet. We hope you will sign up and be part of this important input. Please list in order of preference by numbers 1, 2, and 3 the three times you might be available.
Each of the focus group sessions will meet both in person in the upstairs lounge and by Zoom for your convenience.
Please sign up by emailing the church office at office@ravenscov.org, or by calling the church office at 773-784-7091. Please leave your preferences on the answering machine if your call is not picked up.
FOCUS GROUP MEETINGS
Tuesday, August 9, 7 pm
Saturday, August 13, 10 am
Monday, August 15, 7 pm
Thursday, August 25, 7 pm
Farmers market
This past Wednesday’s farmers market broke last week’s record, reaching a new post-pandemic high of 616 adult attendees! Slowly but surely, the local community is again starting to regather on Wednesday afternoons in our parking lot.
The farmers market season will run until our annual fall festival on Wednesday, October 12. This year’s markets will run from 4 pm to 7 pm, and as always they will be held in the church parking lot.
We are still looking for market volunteers to help out with set-up, assisting with kids activities, and take-down on Wednesdays. If you can assist, even if it’s only for one Wednesday, please contact Sneha John, Bekah Carlson, Pastor Denise, or the church office.
Aid for Ukrainian refugees
Jeremy and Amanda Foster, who attend our church, have a direct connection to a mission that is serving refugees who have fled Ukraine following the Russian invasion. Jeremy’s parents Don and Beatrice Foster are in Hazebrouck, France as tentmaker missionaries and have prepared rooms in their home for refugees coming from Ukraine.
If you would like to donate to help the Fosters pay for extra food and supplies, please give a donation to Ravenswood Covenant that is specially designated for Ukrainian refugees. If you would like to give directly online, the website for the Fosters is https://ukraine.la-ferme-de-la-papote.com/ .
The Covenant denomination is also raising funds for Ukraine through Covenant World Relief. Here is the link if you would like to donate through the Covenant’s program. https://giving.covchurch.org/priorities-detail/ukraine-response
Wanted: Church directory coordinator
Ravenswood Covenant is in the process of updating its online church directory, with the intention of eventually making paper copies of the directory available. We are seeking a volunteer who is willing to take on this project, which means gathering information and photographs and inputting them onto the church’s WordPress-based website. If you are interested in coordinating the directory update, please contact Gregory Sager in the church office at 773-784-7091 or office@ravenscov.org.
Thursday evening adult Bible study
Our weekly Bible study meets on Thursday evenings at 7 pm. We are currently studying the book of Romans. We welcome anybody to the upstairs lounge on Thursday evenings who wants to take part in the Bible study. If you would prefer to participate remotely, or if you are out of town, the Bible study will continue to provide Zoom access as well for online participants.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/95052558015?pwd=N3d1eFpUUmUwenhCSzNJNUk3WEV2QT09
The Zoom meeting ID for the Bible study: 972 871 4458
The Zoom passcode for the Bible study: 1qa3CD
Join Us in Sponsoring a Student in the NPTS SRA Program
North Park’s School of Restorative Arts offers a MA in Christian Ministry and Restorative Arts, allowing free and incarcerated students to study together. This unique degree program is designed to prepare individuals for ministries of restoration in contexts susceptible to violence and includes courses in trauma, race relations, nonviolent communication, conflict transformation, restorative practices, and transformative justice, in addition to Bible, theology, and history. In partnership with the Illinois Department of Corrections, this four-year degree is currently offered at Stateville Correctional Center with 80 incarcerated men and a first cohort of 20 women at Logan Correctional Center.
We, Ravenswood Covenant Church, have partnered with North Park Theological Seminary by committing to sponsor a student in this program. To help us support an SRA student please send a check to church or give online and in the memo line write: “SRA Sponsorship.”
RECC preaching schedule for the remainder of the summer
August 7: Pastor Mark
August 14: Eliza Stiles
August 21: Brandi Sanders
August 28: Pastor Denise
September 3: Gregory Sager
Scripture for next Sunday
Matthew 20:25-28
1 Peter 5:1-14
Art Used in this Bulletin: Steve Erspamer, SM
Clip Art for Year A © 1992, Archdiocese of Chicago.
Our church exists to love and worship God, and love and care for others. By God’s grace, we commit to help people find and follow Jesus Christ through the guidance of His Spirit and His word.